It’s new year’s eve today, I’m up at 6am with my toddler. Nothing unusual there, and you may think that because I have children that’s why I don’t really like new years. But I’ve always had a love hate relationship with New year’s eve. All the hype, the preparation for the ‘big night,’ everyone being a bit non-committal to any party or venue in case something better came along. Getting all your friends to agree on a place to go or to come round yours for the night is an impossible feat. And then there’s midnight, the waiting for it when I’d rather be in bed, the countdown followed by you must kiss your partner followed by everyone else and then the singing of auld lang syne with weird cross arm bouncing. Worst of all, someone puts on Jools Holland, a man I inexplicably want to punch.
One of my best new years eve when I was a student was sitting with my best mate under a table at our local pub. The worst was leaving a terrible party with my friend, getting a kebab and spending midnight quite literally at a zebra crossing.
The millenium new years eve was quite cool, a friend had a party which was quite epic, but one of my close friends got kicked out for flirting with one of the married brothers and I got disapproving looks from the Grandma for rifling through the kid’s lucky dip and wearing all the masks, hats and streamers at the same time – happy days.
The last 10 years since children started appearing I’ve mostly been happy being at home with a takeaway and the TV – when you still have to get up at 6am the next day and be responsible for tiny humans, drinking until you pass out loses it’s appeal. The last few years I’ve been determined to get to bed well before midnight and be asleep during it, to wake up afresh on new years day. I always seem to wake up just before and then the fireworks start. Maybe this year!
So what’s to love?
A New Start
The best part. You get to start over. You can do this any time, but at new year it seems easier, the slate is wiped clean, you can set goals, make resolutions, be a better person. It all seems achievable in the run up and after new years day. Psychologically, I love the ideas and energy I get at this time of year and planning out my hopes and dreams for the year. As a race we’re constantly striving for the next best thing so we can constantly evolved. I used to not bother with resolutions, because they were so easily broken and not achievable, but goals that have actionable targets and can be reviewed are easier. I’m aiming for 90 day periods in the year to make it more manageable and I’m totally buzzed about what I can achieve. They’re mostly business and saving goals, things like ‘Must be a better mother’ and ‘Clean house more’ are ongoing. Look out for my goal setting post next week, plus I’ll be comparing last year’s goals to see where I’m at.
Looking back on the year
I love all the year in review programmes, the nostalgia of looking back at the past year, the highs and lows, the news stories, films, entertainment and on social media my personal highs and lows and achievements and my family and friends.
Getting back into routine
Christmas is lovely but it’s great to get back to normal and pack the children off to school and nursery, get stuck in to work and implement all those plans. TV starts to improve as new series start. I don’t seem to get the January blues, I’ve always been a bit different! This year due to me being self employed I don’t have that long wait until payday, my payments come in fits and starts anyway and I have a buffer in place.
So this new year’s eve I’m more in love with it than not, but for different reasons. I won’t be partying, you’ll hopefully find me asleep at midnight (possibly on the sofa in solidarity with my husband) but I’ll definitely be looking forward to waking up on New Year’s Day with renewed vigour and my three little miracle babies (some not so little) around me. However you spend it, have a good one.
Happy New Year!
